Strong second half lifts San Jose State past UTSA, 80-67

SAN ANTONIO — James Kinney 19 of his 22 of his points in the
second half and San Jose State shot 66.7 percent after intermission to
down UTSA, 80-67, on Monday afternoon in Western Athletic Conference
action at the Convocation Center.

Kinney was just 1-for-5 from the floor in the
first 20 minutes, but he caught fire in the second by going 8-of-11,
including 3-of-4 from behind the 3-point line, and he dished out seven
assists to lead the Spartans (7-5, 2-0 WAC). The
visitors scored 32 points in the paint and were 28-of-50 (56 percent)
from the field overall, making 14-of-21 in the second half.

Chris Cunningham posted 11 of his 19 points
after halftime and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds to help San
Jose State tally a 35-29 edge on the glass. LaVanne Pennington added 16
points on the strength of a 4-for-7 effort from
downtown.

The lead exchanged hands six times in the first
half, but the Spartans used a pair of late 3-pointers from Pennington,
including a buzzer-beater, to claim a 36-30 halftime advantage.

UTSA rallied from a 38-32 deficit early in the
second to knot the score at 42-42 on a three-point play by Hill at the
16:56 mark.

San Jose State answered by reeling off the next
seven points and eventually took a 55-45 lead on another Pennington
three with 13:27 remaining.

The Roadrunners knifed into the Spartans’ lead,
as a Sims trey made it 62-58 midway through the half. However, San Jose
State scored eight unanswered points and UTSA got no closer than
10 the remainder of the game in dropping their
second consecutive outing.

UTSA shot 39.3 percent (22-of-56) for the game and
made 11-of-29 from beyond the arc and 12-of-20 at the charity stripe.
The Roadrunners also dished out 17 assists on their 22 field goals and
committed just nine turnovers.

The Roadrunners hit the road to face New Mexico State (6-7, 0-1 WAC) at 8 p.m. (CT) on Thursday.